yosemitetim
New member
This maybe the nicest T1N Sportsmobile sprinter around. Everything has been serviced on or ahead of schedule. Most service was done at the Mercedes Sprinter service center or Kearney Mesa Dodge. The T1N is considered more reliable than the NVC3s and it has been very reliable for us. I bought it from the original owner with ~20k miles on it in Jan 2009. It has 127k miles on it.
Over $82k has been invested in this camper van. See the complete list of upgrades below but some of the highlights are:
- Projector headlights (the OEM headlights were never great)
- Lithium ion battery system w/ solar panel
- Koni shocks
- 6 speaker + subwoofer + Carplay/Android Auto stereo
- Plumbing upgrades (way better than original Sportsmobile plumbing)
- I redesigned the bed so I could load a dirtbike inside the vehicle and made the bed bigger in the process - its somewhere between a queen and king. If you ride, you’ll be stoked. If you don’t ride, you’ll still appreciate all the additional storage this design provides. If you would rather have the original sportsmoble “goucho” bed with troop seating, it can be re-done for this with some work. I saved all the bed rails. I removed the roof top AC and replaced it with a vent/sunroof. The original AC opening is unchanged and wiring is still in place should you wish to add AC. I never used it and made the van a bit top heavy.
While the T1N can take low quality (eg Mexican) diesel this camper van has never been south of the border. I believe it handles biodiesel better than newer diesels.
Standard Sportsmobile features
--------------------------------------
Propane furnace
Propane stove
Electric hot water heater
Microwave
Full bathroom/shower
Inverter
Second loveseat bed (good for someone 5’5” or so)
Awning
Fantastic Fan
Over $17,000 in Upgrades
---------------------------------
Android Auto/Carplay Stereo $500 2022
Projector Headlights $900 2022
Aluminum turbo resonator $500 2022
Spare new halogen headlights, misc spares $700 2020
Mercedes Badging $800 2020
Improved MB wiring harness/elec parts $1500 2019
Memory foam bed – larger than a queen! $500 2019
Window covers $200 2019
Better shower head & sink faucet $300 2019
Loft-like bed w/ motorcycle storage $300 2019
Snow chains $150 2019
Sound deadening $1500 2018
Driving Lights $500 2018
Interior LED lighting & awning led $400 2018
Koni shocks $1000 2018
Lithium ion RV battery $2600 2017
Plumbing re-engineering $900 2011
180 amp alternator $300 2013
All tank level indicators $1600 2009
5 amp Solar panel $1250 2011
Space heater (for when docked) $50 2009
TV w/ media center $200 2009
Safe for laptops/cameras $200 2009
6 speakers + subwoofer upgrade $700 2009
Other important replacements
Windshield rust remedy $1500 2020
Front End suspension replacement $1500 2022
I wrote my own manual to help you understand all the upgrades (especially the lithium ion battery). I will provide a detailed spreadsheet of when all service items are due as well as any known issues.
I would say it "needs nothing" but the one thing it will need in the next few years (depending on how particular you are) is paint. The T1N sprinter's weak point. I don't think it looks bad at all, but its hard to clean and you have to be careful with the paint.
Over $82k has been invested in this camper van. See the complete list of upgrades below but some of the highlights are:
- Projector headlights (the OEM headlights were never great)
- Lithium ion battery system w/ solar panel
- Koni shocks
- 6 speaker + subwoofer + Carplay/Android Auto stereo
- Plumbing upgrades (way better than original Sportsmobile plumbing)
- I redesigned the bed so I could load a dirtbike inside the vehicle and made the bed bigger in the process - its somewhere between a queen and king. If you ride, you’ll be stoked. If you don’t ride, you’ll still appreciate all the additional storage this design provides. If you would rather have the original sportsmoble “goucho” bed with troop seating, it can be re-done for this with some work. I saved all the bed rails. I removed the roof top AC and replaced it with a vent/sunroof. The original AC opening is unchanged and wiring is still in place should you wish to add AC. I never used it and made the van a bit top heavy.
While the T1N can take low quality (eg Mexican) diesel this camper van has never been south of the border. I believe it handles biodiesel better than newer diesels.
Standard Sportsmobile features
--------------------------------------
Propane furnace
Propane stove
Electric hot water heater
Microwave
Full bathroom/shower
Inverter
Second loveseat bed (good for someone 5’5” or so)
Awning
Fantastic Fan
Over $17,000 in Upgrades
---------------------------------
Android Auto/Carplay Stereo $500 2022
Projector Headlights $900 2022
Aluminum turbo resonator $500 2022
Spare new halogen headlights, misc spares $700 2020
Mercedes Badging $800 2020
Improved MB wiring harness/elec parts $1500 2019
Memory foam bed – larger than a queen! $500 2019
Window covers $200 2019
Better shower head & sink faucet $300 2019
Loft-like bed w/ motorcycle storage $300 2019
Snow chains $150 2019
Sound deadening $1500 2018
Driving Lights $500 2018
Interior LED lighting & awning led $400 2018
Koni shocks $1000 2018
Lithium ion RV battery $2600 2017
Plumbing re-engineering $900 2011
180 amp alternator $300 2013
All tank level indicators $1600 2009
5 amp Solar panel $1250 2011
Space heater (for when docked) $50 2009
TV w/ media center $200 2009
Safe for laptops/cameras $200 2009
6 speakers + subwoofer upgrade $700 2009
Other important replacements
Windshield rust remedy $1500 2020
Front End suspension replacement $1500 2022
I wrote my own manual to help you understand all the upgrades (especially the lithium ion battery). I will provide a detailed spreadsheet of when all service items are due as well as any known issues.
I would say it "needs nothing" but the one thing it will need in the next few years (depending on how particular you are) is paint. The T1N sprinter's weak point. I don't think it looks bad at all, but its hard to clean and you have to be careful with the paint.